Reimagining High School Success
Grades, graduation rates and test scores are typically the first place people look in order to measure high school success. Yet those data points only provide a small part of the overall picture.
“Why not redefine what high school success means?” posed Maria Hamidu, Milwaukee Succeeds’ high school success project manager. “Why not center the whole child instead of looking solely at pieces of them?”
Milwaukee Succeeds and Youth Forward MKE have been hard at work exploring what success truly means for our students. Our upcoming report – titled “Reimagining High School Success: A Community-Centric Approach” – will provide a comprehensive look at all aspects of success, from mental and physical wellbeing to life skills and extracurricular supports. The 20-page research report, coming this April, will be accompanied by a handy infographic, which neatly summarizes the state of high school success in Milwaukee.
“High school success doesn't revolve around grades,” explained Youth Forward MKE Ambassador Deh Nee. “It's about knowing what to do after high school and…also your mental health and your career and your passion.”
Yet, according to the data and feedback from other Youth Forward MKE Ambassadors, the systems currently in place to support students in these areas aren’t cutting it.
“It wasn't really taught by anyone in high school how to manage [stress and anxiety],” said Ambassador Delonta Henderson. “I was on my own to try to figure it out and handle it myself. The same goes for handling real-world responsibilities, like taxes.”
In fact, over half of MPS high schoolers report experiencing significant problems with anxiety. And 34% of youth surveyed during community listening sessions expressed the desire to learn more life skills. The data clearly demonstrates that our students want and need more from their education, but it also highlights how adults can help.
“We are at a pivotal moment in fostering high school success,” said Kristin Kappelman, Milwaukee Succeeds’ director of research. “It’s time to amplify the voices of our youth in this critical conversation. By amplifying youth voice, we not only ensure that their perspectives are heard, but also cultivate a more inclusive and effective educational landscape.”